February 2012

“Did you know dogs can tear their ACL? Did you know dogs had an ACL? Well someone should have warned me. Or at least warned Missy. Because I didn’t appreciate the day I apparently tore my ACL, whatever that is, and the day was going so well too.

Missy and I left the house early for a nice stroll to the park one morning. I was so excited because we hadn’t been to the park in a while because it was so cold. I mean, you already know how much I love the park and the grass at the park. So I knew this day was going to be special. Well, Missy tried to have me mingle with the other dogs, I ignored them per usual, rubbed my face in the few patches of grass I could find, and ran around off my leash. It was going so great. Until…*sigh*…until we got home. I was walking behind Missy, still wanting to run because I was so excited and wanted to share the excitement with Alex, that as I ran to our front door, something happened. Something snapped. I dropped to the floor of the hallway and yelped in pain. I yelped like I never yelped before. Missy ran too me, frantic because she didn’t know what to do. She checked my toes to make sure my nails didn’t get caught on the carpet but once she touched my back paw, it was over. Oh! Even her lifting me up in her arms was painful! I didn’t know what to do except cry and yelp.

Missy, Alex and I all squished into a cab but they both made sure the movement of the cab didn’t disturb me while I was in my carrier. Missy said we were rushing to the animal ER. I didn’t know what that was at the time, but now I do. FYI, the ER is just a fancy way of saying the vet’s office. The only difference is that I didn’t know these people and it was a bit colder. Well, I remember being taken away from Missy and Alex, out of the my carrier and not appreciating the doctor who kept fiddling with my back paw. Didn’t he know that my crying and yelping meant it hurt? Some doctors just don’t get it do they? Well, after he fiddled with my paw, he took me away and then I started feeling sleepy. The next thing I remember, I was lying in a metal cage and I could not walk. I couldn’t even bark because I still felt so tired. I could not bend my leg and it still hurt too much to walk. The pain was not as sharp as it was earlier, but it was still aching. It took a few weeks before I was able to walk without feeling the pain. Missy and Alex actually kept me isolated in the walk-in closet so I wouldn’t wonder around when I started feeling better while they were at work.

Sunny: February 18, 2012

Can you believe there was a time there when they wouldn’t let me go up or down the stairs? They wouldn’t even let me play in the grass or jump on the couch! Missy and Alex just kept trying to make me stand on my two back paws while they held my front paws up in the air. I’m not sure why. I think Missy said I needed to put pressure on my paw to make it strong again but believe me – I learned my lesson. No more pressure was getting put on my back paw again. So I just keep walking with my right back paw a bit more centered. I mean, I have four paws after all. I’m sure lightening the load on one paw won’t be an issue for the rest of them. Problem solved.

Trust me, I’m not messing with the ACL again. No, sir! And it’s fun having Missy and Alex carry me upstairs and downstairs if no elevators are around. Also, now I get carried to snuggle on the couch or the bed or to go to my window seat. Believe me, it’s not so bad. Though, I do jog a bit when I’m on the grass when they’re not looking. I mean…a dog’s gotta be a dog!”